Adjustable door stop



Sept. 17, 1963 v. J. RUCK, JR., ETAL 3,103,692

ADJUSTABLE DOOR STOP Filed Feb. 23. 1962 FIGJ INVENTORS VINCENT :r. RUCKIR. BY& SAMUEL 3'. WOOLLEY FIG.3

TH E\ R ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,103,692 ADJUSTABLE DOOR 8T0]?Vincent J. Ruck, Jr., and Samuel J. Woolley, Louisville,

Ky., asslgnors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New YorkFiled Feb. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 175,023 6 Claims. (Cl. 16-82) The presentinvention relates to a door stop and is more particularly concerned withmeans for modifying the action of a door stop to limit the openingmovement of a door.

Relatively heavy or large doors such as the refrigerator doors arefrequently provided with suitable door stops or door checks for stoppingthe opening movement of the door. A simple, effective and low cost doorstop for limiting the opening movement of a door structure relative to acabinet structure comprises a slotted arm pivotally connected to one ofthe structures and a stop pin extending through the slot in the arm andconnected to the other structure whereby the dooropening travel isstopped by engagement of the pin with the outer end of the slot. Suchstops are not adjustable and once they are mounted on the cabinet anddoor structures, the extent of the opening movement of the door isfixed. In the application of such door stops to refrigerator cabinetsand the like, it is common practice to provide for a normal door openingin the neighborhood of about 120 as this provides a comfortable accessto the interior of the cabinet. However, in some refrigeratorinstallations as for example when the cabinet is placed in the corner ofthe kitchen so that opening of the door beyond 90 causes the door tocome into contact with an adjacent wall of the kitchen, it is desirablethat the door stop limit the opening movement of the door to a pointshort of that at which the door will conact the adjacent wall.

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of anadapter or limiting means for decreasing the opening movement of thedoor provided with a door stop of the above type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator door stopincluding means for easily adjusting the extent of the opening movementof the door.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds and the features ofnovelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out withparticularity in the cliams annexed to and forming a part of thisspecification.

In carrying out the objects of the present invention, there is providedmeans adapted to decrease the opening movement of a door hinged alongone edge to a cabinet and provided with a door stop mechanism includinga pin mounted on the edge of either the door structure or cabinetstructure adjacent the hinge edge of the door and a flat arm or barpivotally mounted on the other structure and having a slot in the freeend thereof for receiving the pin and for stopping opening movement ofthe door by contact'of the pin with the outer end of the slot. Theadapter of the present invention which is adapted to be mounted on thepin includes a channelshaped base portion having an opening for mountingthe adapter on the pin so that the arm will ride in the channel duringopening and closing of the door with the side walls of the channelcausing the adapter means to pivot about the pin along with the arm andin alignment therewith. For decreasing the effective length of the slotand thereby decreasing the opening movement of the door, the adapter isprovided with a projection extending upwardly from the base portionthereof and arranged to extend into the slot for engagement of one endthereof with the pin and the other end with the outer end of the slotwhen the door is opened. This projection which extends into the slotbetween the pin and the outer end of the slot is of a length sufiicientto provide the desired decrease in the opening movement of the door. Inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention there is alsoprovided on the end of the projection contacting the outer end of theslot a lip adapted to ride over the outer end of the arm to assure thatthe arm is retained in the channel for positive engagement with theprojection as the door is moved to its open position.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial elevational view of a refrigerator cabinetillustrating the door hinging and door stop arrangement;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 ofFIGURE 1 with the door illustrated in two different open positions;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view along line 33 ofFIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the door stop adapter of the presentinvention.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a refrigerator cabinet 1 and adoor 2 for closing the access opening to a storage compartment 3. Thedoor 2 is mounted for movement about a vertical axis by means of a hinge4- at a lower corner of the door 2 and a similar hinge (not shown) atthe corresponding upper corner of the door.

Each of these hinges essentially comprises a bracket 5 secured to theface of the cabinet which carries a pin 6 extending through a suitableaperture in the door edge 7 whereby the door pivots about the axis ofthe pin 6 in its movement between a closed and an opened position. Withthe hinges thus disposed, the door opens and closes along an axisadjacent the vertical door edge 8.

The present invention contemplates that the refrigerators or similarcabinets as manufactured and sold will also include a door stop forlimiting the opening movement of the door to a certain maximum as forexample about a opening which provides ample room for comfortable accessto the interior of the compartment 3.

This door stop is of the sliding bar or arm type and comprises an arm Itpivotally fastened at one end by means of a pivot pin l1 to a bracket 12which in turn is secured to the face of the cabinet by means of suitablescrews 14. For additional support and in order to align the door stopwith the hinge structure, the bracket 12. may also include a leg 15provided with a suitable aperture for mounting thereof on the hinge pin6.

As is illustrated more clearly in FIGURE 2 of the drawing, the arm 10 isprovided with a slot 16 in its free or outer end which is adapted toreceive a stop pin 17 threaded into and firmly supported by the loweredge 7 of the door.

The slot 16 is of the length sufiicient to accommodate movement of thepin therein from adjacent the inner end of slot when the door is closedand the arm is disposed in substantial alignment with the door edge 7 toits outer end 18 when the door is in its open position and the arm haspivoted outwardly to the dotted position in FIGURE 2. The limitingaction of the door stop as thus far described depends upon the relativepositions of the pins 6 and 11 and the effective length of the arm 10,that is the distance between the pivot point of this arm as representedby the pin 11 and the outer edge 18 of the slot 16. Normally it iscontemplated that these dimensions will be such that the door will opensomewhat beyond 9U" to a dotted line position in FIGURE 2 before.

refrigerator is installed for example in the corner of a kitchen,opening of the door significantly beyond a 90 position will cause thedoor to come into contact with the adjacent kitchen wall. It istherefore desirable that means be provided for limiting the door openingmovement under such circumstances and in accordance with the presentinvention this is accomplished by the provision of a simple adapter 20which is designed to be mounted on the pin 17 and in cooperation withthe arm limit the travel of the pin 17 in the slot 16 to a shorterdistance so that for example the door opening movement is stopped at the90 point.

As is shown particularly in FIGURE 4 of the drawing, this adapter meanscomprises a base portion 21 and side flanges 22 "forming a channel 23 ofa width sufficient to receive the lever arm 10. An aperture 24 isprovided in the base 21 whereby the adapter can be mounted on the pin 17carried by the door 2. To facilitate removal of the pin so that thisoperation can be performed in the field, the pin 17 is preferablyprovided with a threaded portion 25 which is threaded into the loweredge 7 of the door. In order to mount the adapter on the pin 17, the pinis removed from the door and from cooperative engagement with the slot16 after which the adapter 24} is placed on the pin with the channel 23opening upwardly. The arm 10 is then placed within the channel 23 of theadapter and the pin again replaced in its normal position in the loweredge 7 of the door.

When the member 20 is mounted, a projection 26 extending upwardly fromthe base 21 and into the slot 16 provides means for shortening theelfective length of the slot 16 and thereby limit to the desired extentthe door opening travel. More specifically, this projection 26 comprisesa concave inner edge 27 in alignment with opening 24 and adapted to bearagainst the pin 17 and a convex outer edge 28 at substantially the sameshape as the outer edge 18 of the slot. This edge 28 contacts the slot18 during opening of the door whereby the effective length of the arm 10is decreased by the length of the projection 26 so that when the adapteris used the door will stop in for example its 90 position as illustratedin broken lines in FIGURE 2 of the drawing.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface ofthe base portion 21 of the adapter is provided with a circular recess 30for receiving the nylon washer 31 normally provided on the pin 17 todecrease the frictional engagement of the arm 10 with the head of thepin 17 when the adapter is not used. Preferably there is also providedon the upper edge of the projection 26 an outwardly extending lip 32having a sloping lower surface portion 33 adapted to ride over the outerend of the arm 10 when the door is moved to its open position with theadapter mounted on the pin 17. The purpose of this lip 32 is to preventany jiggling of the arm 10 which is generally relatively looselysupported on the pivot pin 11 from causing it to ride or ship upwardlyover the adapter 20 and out of the channel 23 to a position in which itsfirst contact would be with the pin 17 rather than the projection 26.

It will be seen that there has been provided an adapter which is ofsimple and inexpensive construction and which may be quickly installedin the field for decreasing the extent of opening of a door. It alsoavoids the provision of two or more interchangeable arms 19 havingdifferent dimensions to provide for diiierent degrees of door openingand it permits the use of a single or standard door stop on allrefrigerator cabinets as manufactured, requiring only the addition ofthe adapter as required during installation of the cabinet.

While there has been shown and described a specific embodiment of theinvention, it is to be understood that it is not limited thereto and itis intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. Means for decreasing the opening movement of a door structure hingedalong one edge to a cabinet structure and provided with a door stopmechanism including a pin mounted on an edge of said one of saidstructures adjacent said hinged edge and a substantially flat armpivotably mounted on the other of said structures and having alongitudinal slot therein for receiving said pin and for stoppingopening movement of said door by contact of said pin with the outer endof saidslot, said means comprising a member having a flat base portionfor engaging one surface of said arm, said base portion having anopening for mounting said member on said pin and side flanges forengaging the side edges of said arm to maintain said member in alignmentwith said arm during movement of said arm relative to said pin, aprojection on said base portion for extending into said slot forengagement of one end thereof with said outer end of said slot when saidmember is mounted on said pin, said one end of said projection beingspaced from said opening a distance sufficient to provide the desireddecrease in the opening movement of said door.

2. Means for decreasing the opening movement of a door hinged along oneedge to a cabinet and provided with a door stop mechanism including apin mounted on an edge of said door adjacent said hinged edge and a flatarm pivotably mounted on said cabinet and having a longitudinal slottherein for receiving said pin and for stopping opening movement of saiddoor by contact of said pin with the outer end of said slot, said meanscomprising a member having a flat base portion for engaging the bottomsurface of said arm, said base portion having an opening for mountingsaid member on said pin and side flanges for engaging the side edges ofsaid arm to maintain said member in alignment with said arm duringpivotal movement of said arm about said pin, a projection on said baseportion adapted to extend into said slot for engament of one end thereofwith said outer end of said slot when said member is mounted on saidpin, said one end of said projection being spaced from said opening adistance sufiicient to provide the desired decrease in the openingmovement of said door, and a lip on said one end of said projection forriding over the free end of said arm to assure engagement of said armwith said projection when said door is opened.

3. Means for decreasing the opening movement of a door structure hingedalong one edge to a cabinet structure and provided with a door stopmechanism including a pin mounted on an edge of said one of saidstructures adjacent said hinged edge and a substantially flat armpivotably mounted on the other of said structures and having alongitudinal slot therein for receiving said pin and for stoppingopening movement of said door by contact of said pin with the outer endof said slot, said means comprising a channel-shaped member forreceiving said arm and having an opening in the base thereof formounting said member on said pin, and a projection on said base portionfor extending into said slot for engagement of one end thereof with saidouter end of said slot.

' 4. Means for decreasing the opening movement of a door hinged alongone edge to a cabinet andprovided with a door stop mechanism including apin mounted on an edge of said door adjacent said hinged edge and a fiatarm pivotably mounted on said cabinet and having a longitudinal slottherein for receiving said pin and for stopping opening movement of saiddoor by contact of said pin with the outer end of said slot, said meanscomprising a channel-shaped member adapted to receive a portion of saidarm member having a flat base portion and an opening for mounting saidmember on said pin and a projection on said base portion adapted toextend into said slot for engagement of one end thereof with said outerend of said slot and the other end with said pin, and a lip on said oneend of said projection for riding over the free end of said arm toassure engagement of said arm with said projection when said door isopened.

5. Means for regulating the opening movement of a door structure =hingedalong one edge to a cabinet structure comprising a door stop mechanismincluding a pin mounted on an edge of said one of said structuresadjacent said hinged edge and a substantially flat arm pivotably mountedon the other of said structures and having a longitudinal slot thereinfor receiving said pin, and a removable adapter means comprising amember having a flat base portion engaging one surface of said arm, saidbase portion having an opening for mounting said member on said pin andsaid flanges for engaging the side edges of said arm to maintain saidmember in alig 'ment with said arm during movement of said arm relativeto said pin, a projection on said base portion extending into said slotfor engagement of one end thereof with said outer end of said slot, saidone end of said projection being spaced from said opening a distancesufficient to provide a first degree of opening movement of said door,removal of said adapter permitting a greater opening movement of saiddoor by contact of .said pin With the outer end of said slot.

6. A door stop mechanism including a pin adapted to be mounted on anedge of a door adjacent the hinged edge thereof and a flat arm adaptedto be pivotably mounted on a cabinet and having a longitudinal slottherein for receiving said pin and for stopping opening movement of saiddoor by contact of said pin with the outer end of said slot, and meansfor decreasing opening movement of said door comprising a member havinga flat base portion for engaging the bottom surface of said arm, saidbase portion having an opening for mounting said member on said pin andside flanges for engaging the side edges of said arm to maintain saidmember in alignment with said arm during pivotal movement of said armabout said pin, a projection on said base portion adapted to extend intosaid slot for engagement of one end thereof with said outer end of saidslot when said member is mounted on said pin, said one end of saidprojection being spaced from said opening a distance sufficient toprovide the desired decrease in the opening movement of said door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,815,528 Murray Dec. 10, 1957 2,921,819 Rifkin Jan. 19, 1960 2,960,718Lasier Nov. 22, 1960 3,014,748 Welch et a1. Dec. 26, 1961 3,030,653Eiholzer Apr. 24, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 19,288 Great Britain Sept. 1,1914

3. MEANS FOR DECREASING THE OPENING MOVEMENT OF A DOOR STRUCTURE HINGEDALONG ONE EDGE TO A CABINET STRUCTURE AND PROVIDED WITH A DOOR STOPMECHANISM INCLUDING A PIN MOUNTED ON AN EDGE OF SAID ONE OF SAIDSTRUCTURES ADJACENT SAID HINGED EDGE AND A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT ARMPIVOTABLY MOUNTED ON THE OTHER OF SAID STRUCTURES AND HAVING ALONGITUDINAL SLOT THEREIN FOR RECEIVING SAID PIN AND FOR STOPPINGOPENING MOVEMENT OF SAID DOOR BY CONTACT OF SAID PIN WITH THE OUTER ENDOF SAID SLOT, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A CHANNEL-SHAPED MEMBER FORRECEIVING SAID ARM AND HAVING AN OPENING IN THE BASE THEREOF FORMOUNTING SAID MEMBER ON SAID PIN, AND A PROJECTION ON SAID BASE PORTIONFOR EXTENDING INTO SAID SLOT FOR ENGAGEMENT OF ONE END THEREOF WITH SAIDOUTER END OF SAID SLOT.